Wirelessly operated electrical decorative light



June 21,1938.

H. F. WATERS WIRELESSLY 2,121,460 OPERATED ELECTRICAL DECORATIVE LIGHT Filed Feb. 10, 1957 TREE F ll/Y i Patented June 21, 1938 i UNITED STATES WIRELESSLY OPERATED ELECTRICAL DEC- QRATIVE LIGHT Harry F. Waters, New York, N. Y.

l2 Claims.

, Theepresent invention relates to wirelessly operated electrical decorative lamps, and, more particularly, to wirelessly operated decorative lamps for Christmas trees.

5 Heretotore, it was customary to employ candles or small incandescentlamps on Christmas trees for decorative purposes. Candles had the obvious disadvantage of providing a substantial fire hazard and in addition had to be replaced quite frequently. Small incandescent lamps did not completely solve the problem because they provided, a light eflect which was much too strong and could not imitate the soft and attractive glow of candles. Another grave objection against is conventional incandescent lamps was that they had to be connected to a wire line carried throughout the tree and which interferred with the decorative value of the tree. The lamps and their sockets with the associated wires or cords have been quite heavy and weighed down the branches of the tree. Moreover, short circuits have frequently been caused bysmali'threads or particles of tinsel or of tinfoil, which are extensively used on trees for decorative purposes, 95 contacting parts of the lamp sockets or the protruding part of the lamp bases and cases have been known when serious fires involving lossoi' property or human life occurred for this reason. Although this situation was well known in the art for a considerable length of time and various suggestions and proposals have been made 'to solve the outstanding problem, none, as far as I am aware, of thesevarious suggestions and pro ppsals wascompletely satisfactory and successful. 1 have discoveredthat the problem may be solved in a remarkably simple manner. I

It is an object of the present inventiontoprovide an improved system of electrical illumination for decorative purposes, particularly for 40 Christmas trees, which is completely free from 'the'disadvantages and inconveniences of conventional candles and of electrical incandescent lamps. r

Itis another object of the present invention to or discharge tubes emitting light and mounted on a Christmas tree without connecting said lamps or tubes bywire to'the source of electrical 50 energy. 1' c 1 Itis further object of the invention to provide a device adapted to convert industrial elec- 'trical currents into high frequency currents,

which is capable ofenergizing suitable lightemitting lamps by means of'electrical currents provide a device for operating electrical lamps Application February 10, 1937, Serial -No. 125,111

transmitted through the medium of a Christmas tree but without any direct wire connection.

Still another'object oi! the invention is to provide a self-contained converter of industrial alternating currents to high frequency currents and having means for receiving and holding a Christmas tree exposed to the effect of such currents whereby discharge tubes and electrical lamps are actuated merely by means of the current received through the trunk and the branches 10 of the Christmas tree.

Y The invention also contemplates discharge lamps of novel form and character capable of emitting an attractive, inspiring and soft-glowing light when employed in connection with the tre- 1g quency converter of the present invention.

It is also within contemplation of the invention to provide a simple and self-contained frequency converting device of small dimensions for wirelessly operating decorative lights on Christmas trees, which is simple in construction and which may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in, conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device embodying the principles of the present invention and holding a Christmas tree having wirelessly operated decorative lamps mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 depicts the electrical circuit employed in the deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a discharge lamp of elongated I form adapted to be wirelessly energized by means of the device of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a modified gas discharge device of spherical form adapted to emit light under the influence ofhigh frequency currents; and

Fig. 5 is a further modified gas discharge de- 40 vice having'the form of a cross.

Broadly stated, according to the principles of my invention, I provide an oscillation producer adapted to produce electrical oscillations, ofa

high frequency. 'I'heoscillation producers may v be of widely different character such as a thermionic tube oscillator or an oscillator. of the spark gap type, such as employed in conventional medical diathermy machines. 1 introduce one pole of the produced high frequency 60 currents into a Christmas tree while the other pole oi theoscillation producer may remain disconnected or, if desired, may be grounded. As decorative lamps, I employ small evacuated vessels of glass in various decorative forms and shapes with or without internal electrodes, which evacuated vessels of the described character will emit a soft glow or light when subjected to the effect of high' frequency currents or fields, .due to the ionization of the gas content. The color 'and the character of the light emitted largely depends on the character and pressure of the gases contained within the vessel or glass envelope, the frequency and thecharacter of the high frequency currents, and on the form and shape of the electrodes. Discharge lamps of the described character will emit light even in the case when they are connected only to one side of a high frequency oscillatory circuit,and, in

case the high frequency field is sufiiciently strong, even without any wire or electrical connection whatsoever. Discharge vessels of this type are very moderate in their current requirements so that an oscillator of relatively small output may supply a relatively large number of such lamps with high frequency currents. In addition to this, high frequency currents within the frequency range contemplated have no physiological effect on the human body so that they are harmless and cannot produce direct shocks even if the conductors are touched directly.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of thedrawing, a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated. A box or casing l constituted of wood or some similar material is supported on feet 2 constituted of a good insulator such as, for example, hard rubber, synthetic resins, etc. Casing i is provided with a tree-supporting member 3 constituted of metal mounted on the top surface thereof, having a tubular extension adapted to receive and to hold a Christmas tree. A thumb screw 4 may be provided in the tree supporting member for securely holding the tree in position and also for providing a good electrical connection between the member and the tree. 3 Within casing i is provided a small oscillator preferably of the thermionic tube type adapted to convert the alternating current from the power line and introduced into the casing through cord and plug 9, into a high frequency current. The one side of the output of the high frequency oscillator is connected to the tree supporting member 3, while the other side of the output is grounded through a wire l0. On the branches of tree 5 are mounted or suspended light-emitting gas discharge tubes 6, I and 3 having various decorative forms, which are in electrical connection with the tree through little hooks, wires, or clamps having at the same time the object of holding.

. therein will produce electrical oscillations of a high frequency which are unipolarly introduced into the tree. It is to be noted that a tree which still contains some natural moisture, is a fairly good conductor of high frequency electrical energy. Thus,-the high frequency energy will be transmitted through the medium of the tree to the various decorative lamps in the form of gas discharge vessels which will light up under the influence of the high frequency currents communicated thereto. The unipolar connection of the discharge lamps with the oscillator through the tree will be sufilcient for providing a displacement current in the lamps in case the frequency of the high frequency current is high enough. below the radio broadcasting range are used corresponding to wave lengths between 100 meters and 6 meters to prevent interference with conventional broadcasting receivers.

Fig. 2 is a preferred circuit diagram for the conversion of industrial alternating currents into the high frequency currents required for the wireless operation of decorative lights. A transformer having a primary winding II and three secondary windings l2, l3, and H, is provided for supplying a conventional full wave rectifier tube IS with filament and platecurrent, and an oscillator tube 2! with filament heating current.

The rectified current is filtered by means of low frequency chokes l6 and i1 and filter condensers l9 and and is hereafter introduced through a high frequency choke it into the oscillator proper.v The oscillator comprises tube 2|, tapped inductance 22, blocking condenser 23 and grid con- 'denser and resistance 24 and 25, respectively,

ber and to the ground. In view of-the fact that.

this circuit is of conventional character and is well known to those skilled in the art, its operation andthe production of electrical oscillations thereby will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art without any further explanation.

Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred and exemplary form of a. lamp to be employed in connection with the device embodying the principles ofthe pres; ent invention. Essentially, the lamp comprises sealed glass envelope 3| of cylindrical shape having a base 33 and a clamping member 34 associated therewith which permits to readily attach the lamp to one of the branches of the Christmas tree. If desired, the lamp may be provided with a single internal electrode 32 which is carried through the sealed glass envelope "and is electrically connected to the clamping-member 34. In most cases, however, it is not necessary to provide an internal electrode but only an external electrode, for example, by making base 33 of metal. In both cases, when the lamp is attached to one of the branches of the Christmas tree by means of the clamping member, and the treeis energized by means of the oscillator, the glass envelope 3| will be filled with a soft glow in accordance with the character and pressure of the gas within. In case an electrode is provided, it will be covered with a glow discharge and will provide in both cases an attractive and inspiring decorative eflect. r

Fig. 4 depicts a modified embodiment of a gas discharge device adapted to be operated by high frequency electrical currents. The lamp comprises a sealed glass vessel of spherical form, ll, filled with a suitable gas ata low pressure. Glass vessel H is provided with an external electrode 42 which is secured to the upper portion of the spherical vessel by means of cementing. A short Preferably, frequencies considerably" amines crosahl, an internal electrode 5 2, a base 53 which vided which does not require any is preferably constituted of metal and a clamp or fastening device 54. In view-of the similarity of construction, operation of this modified embodiment will be readily understood by those skilled in the art without any further explanation.

It is to be noted that the device embodying the principles of the present invention provides a number of important advantages. First of all,

a device for wirelessly operating decorative lamps on Christmas trees and similar objects, is prowire connection between the source of electrical energy and the lamps but relies merely on the transfer of electrical energy by means of radiation and by means of unipolar conduction through the medium of the tree. This circumstance not only permits complete freedom in the arrangement of the decorations on the tree, but also eliminates bulky, unsightly and dangerous wire connections.

It is also to be observed that the gas discharge lamps operated by the device of the invention provide novel and highly attractive decorative and light ellects which are by far superior to the strong glare of conventional incandescent lamps and which provide a soft and pleasing glow in keeping with the spirit of Christmas. Moreover, the device embodying the invention completely eliminates the danger of short circuits or of shocks in view of the fact thatthe high frequency currents employed have no physiological effect and are completely harmless.

Furthermore, the device embodying the invention is extremely simple in construction and to operate and may be manufactured and sold at a low price, particularly in view of the fact that the gas discharge lamps contemplated consume very small quantities, of electrical energy so that a relatively small output'of oscillatory energy will satisfactorily operate a large number of lamps.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a few preferred embodiments thereof, and particularly as applied to a Christmas tree, variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the principles of the present invention. I consider 'all of these variations and modifications as within the true spirit and scope of the present invention, as disclosed in the present description and defined by the appended claims.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising means for varying electrical energy at a high frequency rate, means for supporting a Christmas tree, means for impressing said energy on said tree, and electrical light producing means associated with said tree and adapted to emit light under the effect of such @energy.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising means for converting an electrical current of low frequency into electrical oscillations of high frequency means for supmrting a Christmas tree, coupling means for intro-' means for supporting a Christmas tree, means electrically associated with said supporting means for unipolarly introducing said oscillations into said Christmas tree, and electrical discharge lamps mounted on said tree and unipolarly connected thereto, said lamps being adapted to emit light under the influence of said oscillations,

4. In a device of the character described, the.

combination comprising a high frequency oscillator, means for supplying electrical power to said oscillator,.means for withdrawing high frequency oscillations therefrom, supporting means connected to one pole of the output of said oscillator for holding a Christmas tree, and a plurality of sealed glassvessels containing gas at reduced pressure mounted on said tree and adapted to emit light when said oscillator is, actuated.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a source of current, an oscillator connected to said source of current and adapted to produce electrical oscillations of high frequency, metallic supporting means for a Christmas tree electrically connected to one pole of said oscillator, a ground lead connected to the other pole of said oscillator, and a plurality of glass vessels containing gas at a low pressure mounted on said tree and unipolarly energized by high frequency oscillations through the medium of said tree.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing, a high frequency oscillator in said casing, means for supplying electric power to said oscillator, a metallic tree-supporting member mounted on said casing and connected to said oscillator, said supporting member being adapted to receive and to hold a Christmas tree and to transfer high frequency oscillations thereto, and a plurality of electric discharge tubes on said tree energized by said oscillations unipolarly transsulating saidcasing from a supporting surface, a

high frequency thermionic tube oscillator in said casing, a cord for supplying electrical energy to said oscillator from a power line, a tree-supporting member of conductive material mounted on said casing and connected to said oscillator, said supporting member being adapted to receive and to hold a Christmas tree and to transfer high frequency oscillations thereto.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a casing, a plurality of insulative feet for supporting said casing, a high frequency oscillator in said casing, a cord for supplying electrical energy to said oscillator from a power line, a tree supporting member constituted of a metallic material mounted on the top panel of said casing and electricallyconnected to one pole of the output of. said oscillator, said supporting member being adapted to support a Christmas tree and to transfer electrical oscillations thereto, a ground lead connected to the transmitted other pole of the output of said oscillator, and

prising a casingg comprising a casing, a high frequency oscillator in said casing, means for supplying electrical energy to said oscillator from .a power line, treesupporting means mounted on said casing and electrically associated with said oscillator, said supporting means being adapted to receive and to hold a Christmas tree and to transfer high frequency oscillations thereto.

11. In a system of wlrelessly operating elecirical decorative lights on a tree, the combination comprising a casing, a high frequency oscillator in said casing, means for supplying electrical energy to said oscillator from a power line, treesupporting means adapted to receive a. Christmas tree and to insulatedly hold the same from the ground, and coupling means electrically associated with said oscillator and said supporting means to transfer high frequency oscillations to said tree.

12. In a system of wirelessly operating electrical decorative lights on a tree, the combination comprising a high frequency oscillator, means for supplying electrical energy to said oscillator from a power line, tree-supporting means adapted to receive and to insulatedly hold a Christmas tree from the ground, and coupling means electrically associated with said oscillator and said supporting means to transfer high frequency oscillations to said tree.

HARRY F. WATERS. 

